Poinsettia plant `Peterstar`

ABSTRACT

This new Poinsettia cultivar, designated `Peterstar`, is vigorous and self-branching, having a medium height and bright red flower bracts. `Peterstar` originated as an induced mutation of `Angelika` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,492). `Peterstar` is shorter and blooms earlier than `Angelika`, the cultivar it most closely resembles. The bracts are wider and smoother than those of `Angelika`.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

`Peterstar` is a vigorous, strong growing Poinsettia of medium heightand large, bright red flower bracts. It has self-branching traits whichmake it desirable for branched plant production. `Peterstar` bloomsrelatively early and the blooming time is very uniform among individualclones. The bract presentation is slightly umbrella shaped, but theplant does not exhibit epinasty after sleeving and shipping.

This new Poinsettia cultivar originated in a greenhouse in Skibby,Denmark as an induced mutation of the red bracted cultivar `Angelika`(U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,492). The Poinsettia of the present invention wasinduced from the variety `Angelika` using 2500 RAD of gamma rays, andwas selected from about 200 mutants so produced. It most closelyresembles the cultivar `Angelika` but distinctly differs in thefollowing traits. `Peterstar` has a more compact growth habit than`Angelika`. No growth (retarding) hormone is needed to obtain thecompact stature of `Peterstar`. In contrast, to get this samecompactness with `Angelika`, you have to treat this variety with arather high dosage of Cycocel. `Peterstar` has wider bracts and thebract surface is relatively smoother than `Angelika`. The bright redcolor of `Peterstar` is uniform across the entire bract surface, whereasthe red bracts of `Angelika` fade along the margins. `Peterstar` blooms3-4 days earlier than `Angelika`. This mutant was selected because ofits distinctive characteristics which seem to make it commercially moredesirable than the parent plant `Angelika`.

After selection, vegetative reproduction of this plant was accomplishedby stem cuttings for further testing purposes. Clones were subjected tosuccessive generations of vegetative propagation which demonstrated thatbract coloration, smooth bracts, early flowering and other distinctivecharacteristics held true from generation to generation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

Poinsettia cultivar `Peterstar` is illustrated in the accompanying colorphotographs.

The upper photo is a side view of a typical pinched plant with severalflowering stems.

The lower photo is a top view of the same plant showing flower and bractformation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of this new Poinsettia asobserved in greenhouses in Encinitas, Calif., during December, 1990.Some observations are compared to the cultivar `Angelika`, U.S. PlantPat. No. 5,492, grown at the same time, in the same greenhouse and underthe same cultural conditions. Color designations are compared to the1986 edition of R.H.S. Colour Chart, first published in 1966 by theRoyal Horticultural Society, London, England.

THE PLANT

Origin: An induced mutation of `Angelika` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,492).

Classification:

Botanic.--Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd.

Common name.--Poinsettia.

Cultivar name.--`Peterstar`.

Form: Shrub.

Height: Medium.

Growth habit: As a single stemmed plant, upright and vigorous. In fullflower, the stem is terminated by a large inflorescence, with smallerflowering side shoots lower on the stem. The average overall height ofsingle stemmed plants was 43 cm. for `Peterstar` compared to 48 cm.height for `Angelika`.

Branching: Branching can be enhanced by removal of the stem tip. Then,several flowering branches with equal vigor will develop on a singleplant.

Growth rate: Very fast. Rooting of stem cuttings occurs in 12-18 daysunder intermittent mist. The plant will flower in about nine weeks undercontinuous long night conditions and night temperatures of about 16-18degrees C. Flowering is 3-4 days earlier than `Angelika`.

Foliage: The foliage is clean and uniformly dark green from bottom totop of the plant. The leaves are of medium size, leaf blades typicallybeing 13-15 cm. long and 9-10 cm. wide with leaf petioles 5-6 cm. long.

Leaf shape.--Typical leaves are ovate with obtuse bases and acuminatetips. Leaf margins are mostly entire. An occasional leaf is modestlylobed with one small lobe on either side of the leaf blade.

Leaf surface.--Upper surface is glabrous and smooth. The under surfaceis slightly pubescent.

Color.--Upper side -- Darker than RHS 147A. Under side -- Near RHS 147B.

Retention.--The foliage retention is good even under low lightintensities in the consumer's home.

Bracts: Generally there are 21-24 bracts of various sizes subtending thecyathia, as compared to the parent `Angelika`, which typically exhibitsabout 17 to 12 bracts in overlapping arrangement with a tight center.The primary bracts have blades typically 16-18 cm. long and 11-13 cm.wide with petioles 2-3 cm. long.

Shape.--Bracts are mostly ovate to elliptic on smaller bracts, withacute bases and acuminate tips. Bract margins are mostly entire, butprimary bracts may have slight lobing on either side of the bracts.

Surface.--The bract surface is only slightly rugose and smoother thanthe bract surface of `Angelika`.

Color.--Upper side -- Bright red, near RHS 46B. The color of the bractsis uniform compared to `Angelika`, whose bract color fades near themargins. Under side -- Red, near RHS 45C.

Cyathia: Generally, 18-21 cyathia (flowers) develop when the plant is in"full bloom". Each cyathium is 6-7 mm long and 5-6 mm wide, green incolor, and fringed with red at the distal end. Either one or two yellownectar cups protrude from the side of each cyathium. The flower pedicelis green and 5-6 mm in length. The stamens protruding from the cyathiaare dark red. No viable seeds are formed. `Peterstar` has abortiveanthers (no pollen), is male sterile and probably also female sterile,as seeds set after crossing with this variety have never been seen.There are typically 10-12 anthers ripening at any one time. The pollenproduced is yellow and copious.

Retention: The post production retention of the cyathia is good.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct Poinsettia cultivar,substantially as herein shown and described, distinguished by itsvigorous and self-branching growth habits, medium height and bright redflower bracts.